The deal will send Love to Cleveland in return for Anthony Bennett, Andrew Wiggins and a protected first-round draft pick. There is also a firm agreement that Love will opt out of his contract in 2015 and re-sign with Cleveland for a five-year, $120 million-plus extension.

The earliest the deal can be finalized is Aug. 23 because Wiggins, the top pick in the 2014 NBA draft, cannot be traded until one month after signing his rookie contract.

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.